Benitez proud of Chelsea after Europa League win

Chelsea's leaving interim manager Rafael Benitez has said that he is proud of the team after they won the Europa League 2-0 against Benfica with the help of a match-winning strike by Branislav Ivanovic.

Ivanovic rose deep into stoppage time to clinch Chelsea's second major European trophy within a year, which was lifted by Frank Lampard, the acting captain in the absence of injured John Terry , and Terry himself, the Mirror reports.

The report further said that Benitez, whose troubled interim period as manager is almost over, will now leave after another dramatic European triumph.

Stating that the team had given an impressive performance in the second half of the game, especially against a good team, Benitez said that he is all the more proud as the players despite struggling in the first half, had shone at the end.

Benitez further said that the players deserved their win as they have worked hard all season.

Meanwhile, Lampard, who crashed a 35-yard shot off the bar three minutes from time before Ivanovic's late drama, expressed his pleasure at the win, saying that he hoped the win would give a boost to his dreams of signing a new deal at the club. (ANI[7])